How to compare Wi-Fi stability near an open window

Your Wi-Fi gets choppy in one part of the room, and you wonder if opening a nearby window will help. A single speed test cannot tell you much about stability, especially if the connection changes from one minute to the next.

Use the Wi-Fi Signal tool to compare response time, jitter, and dropped requests with the window open and closed. The test measures how the connection behaves, not the Wi-Fi signal strength in dBm, so keep the conditions as similar as you can.

Compare the connection with the window open and closed

1. Open the Wi-Fi Signal tool on the device you normally use in that room. Keep the device in one spot and leave it facing the same direction for every test.
2. Close the window and pause large downloads, streaming, and other activities that use the internet. Start a measurement and let it run for the same length of time you will use for the other measurements. A couple of minutes is a useful comparison period.
3. Note the response time, jitter, and any lost requests. These readings describe how quickly the test gets a response, how much that delay varies, and whether requests fail to get a response.
4. Open the window without moving the device, then run the same measurement for the same length of time. Keep other conditions unchanged, including the Wi-Fi network and whether a VPN is on.
5. Repeat the comparison at least once, ideally testing closed, open, then closed again. If the last closed-window result differs greatly from the first, network activity or changing conditions may be affecting the comparison.

Write down the results rather than relying on memory. A small difference in one run can be normal variation. A pattern across repeated runs is more useful.

What the result means

Fewer drops and steadier jitter with the window open

The connection behaved more consistently during the open-window tests. This does not prove that the window caused the change, since other devices or internet traffic may have changed too. Repeat the comparison at another time before deciding that opening the window is a reliable fix.

The results are similar both ways

The window did not make a clear difference under the conditions you tested. The source of the problem may be distance from the router, interference, congestion, or the internet connection beyond your home. To separate a weak Wi-Fi connection from a broader internet problem, see Is your Wi-Fi weak, or is it the internet?

The results vary a lot in both conditions

Unstable readings in both sets suggest that the connection is changing for another reason, or that the test path to the service is variable. Try again when fewer people are using the network, and compare at the same time of day. If drops continue, test closer to the router as described below.

Response time improves but drops or jitter do not

The connection may be responding faster without becoming more consistent. For calls, games, and remote work, fewer drops and steadier jitter can matter more than a small change in average response time.

How to improve the comparison

1. Keep the device in the same place. Even moving a laptop a short distance or changing its angle can affect reception. Do not hold it in your hand for one test and set it down for another.
2. Check that the device stays on the same network. On Windows 11, open Settings › Network & internet › Wi-Fi and confirm the connected network. On macOS, check System Settings › Wi-Fi. Avoid changing networks between runs.
3. Reduce competing network activity. Pause backups, game downloads, and video streams on nearby devices while measuring. If another person needs the connection, keep the activity consistent for both window conditions instead of stopping it only for one.
4. Test closer to the router. Run the same measurements near the router, away from the window. If the connection is steady there but unstable by the window, distance, walls, or interference along the route may be involved.
5. Restart the router if problems affect several devices. Save any work that needs the internet first. Unplug the router for about 30 seconds, reconnect it, wait for it to come online, and repeat the comparison.

Why an open window can change Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi signals can pass through ordinary glass, but the effect varies with the glass, window frame, router location, and direction of the signal. Some coated glass can weaken radio signals more than plain glass. Opening the window removes the pane from the path, which may help if the signal actually travels through that window. It may make little difference if walls or distance are the main obstacle.

The Wi-Fi Signal tool reports connection behavior, not the strength of the radio signal in the room. Its response time and lost-request readings can also be affected by the router, internet service, and route to the test service. Treat repeated, consistent differences as evidence that one setup works better for you, not as a precise measurement of signal strength.

If you use the window as a regular workaround, compare the connection at the times you need it most, with the room and nearby devices in their usual state.